Will the ProAce become a HiAce?

Do you remember HiAce – every craftsman's friend?

The utility vehicle that started and ran in all kinds of weather, with durability that surpassed anything else in its class. Japanese quality that was a big success here at home. Today's "HiAce" is made in France together with the new Peugeot Expert and Citroën Jumpy. Soon, the new Opel Vivaro will also roll out in the same livery, although it will be produced in Luton, Great Britain.

With only 1000 km on the clock, it is too early to comment on durability. I had ordered the long version of the Toyota ProAce to transport furniture up to the family resort in Fåvang.

Not for Nordic guys

Almost every time I get into a van I curse my height. I am 1,88 meters tall. Not abnormal for a northerner, but about 5 cm too tall to find a perfect driving position in vans. I understand the van manufacturers. If they had taken people like me into account, the dividing wall would have had to be moved 5 cm backwards - and then there would not have been room for three Euro pallets. A necessary compromise. After some back and forth, I still manage to find an acceptable driving position. The seat back has to be straight up, the seat all the way back and slightly up, so I get some thigh support for my left leg at least. Adjustable lumbar support is a plaster on the wound.

Comfort

The wife was there. We put down the center armrest with a swiveling "office desk". The cup holders are embedded in the dashboard. It was basically quite alright to sit well above the traffic, with the coffee cup in front of you. The only thing missing was a packet of biscuits or cookies.

"Not very comfortable for back pain" it came from the passenger seat. The double passenger seat is only for transportation, not comfort. They are reminiscent of the airplane seats on Ryanair. The first two hours usually go well, then the cramps start. But the trip of three hours up to Fåvang went well.

Stable on winter roads

A full load of new IKEA sofa and other furniture piled in according to all the rules of the art, was still far below the maximum payload limit of 1371 kg. The 2-litre 122 HP engine and six-speed gearbox pulled well in all speed ranges. The way up was wintry with occasionally some loose snow on the road. The ProAce was stable, even when changing lanes where we had to force edges with loose snow. I think the weight of the load contributed to the good stability.

Moving man for a weekend

It was faster to unload than to load. While the wife assembled the new IKEA sofa in the loft living room, I loaded the car again - other furniture that we were going to drop off on the return journey. The two wide side doors made it easy to get to. But being a mover is tiring. A good tip is to tie load straps around the items to get a good grip when lifting. The evening ended nicely with steak, red wine, candles and a great view from the new IKEA sofa in the loft living room.

Favorable consumption

The return load probably didn't weigh as much. The ProAce held 6th gear on climbs where I would have had to downshift with the load we had going uphill. At Øyer we caught up with the Sunday traffic. At speeds of plus or minus 70 km/h and minus 9 degrees, the average consumption fell. Measured on the trip computer, the ProAce settled for 0,48 liters per mile between Tretten and Hamar. On the way up we were at the speed limit between 80 and 110 km/h. Then the average consumption ended up at 0,59 litres/mile after 24 miles with one stop.

122 horses will do

Nothing in the ProAce is "made by Toyota". Apart from the logo in the grill, it is identical to its French brothers in the PSA group. So also the drivetrain. 2-litre BlueHDI engine with 6-speed manual gearbox delivers 122 HP and torque of 340 Nm from 1750 revs. No noticeable turbo lag, good traction and good punch when needed. There is also a 2-litre with 177 HP in the model range. I felt no need for more power than the 122 horse. Heavier loads and trailers might have made me change my mind.

What you get

The Toyota ProAce Comfort L2 (long) costs about NOK 399. For that price you get, among other things, two sliding doors, extra side window on both sides, Xenon, LED daytime running lights, blind spot warning, reversing camera and fabric seats with PVC on the wear surfaces. The air conditioning must be set manually (No "auto" button). The heating system worked well. Ice-free windows and warm cockpit in an instant when we started up in minus 000 degrees.

Conclusion

I realize that you probably have to be too much of a car geek to write about vans that have been built to fulfill the business fleet program. Most people who sit behind the wheel have been given the keys by their employer. Business only, no pleasure – good enough, but no luxury. I myself got the impression of a van that works well on snowy, slippery winter roads and cold weather. Performance and consumption are on par with the best in the industry. Easy to load, easy to maneuver. Not a bad place to be when you need to take a warehouse full of furniture with you on the road.

Time will tell if there will be any HiAce.

Facts about ProAce

Weights and Measures:
Length, width, height: 531 / 192 / 194 cm
Wheelbase: 328 cm
Own weight: 1654 kg
Payload: 1371 kg
Cargo volume: 6,1 m3
Max trailer weight with brakes: 2500 kg
– without brakes: 750 kg